The most popular sport in India in 2024 is cricket, followed by kabaddi and association football. Football (soccer) is now the fastest-growing sport in India and more popular than ever thanks to the Indian Super League (ISL – the top tier of men’s professional football in India) and the I-League (the second tier).
Let’s dive straight in to discover more about India’s love affair with football, which dates back over 100 years.
A brief history of football in India
According to the history books, football was first introduced to the people of India by British soldiers in the 19th century, and one of the main people responsible for helping spread the sport to a wider audience back then, Nagendra Prasad Sarbadhikari, is often referred to in India as the Father of Indian Football.
Not many people know that India is home to one of the world’s oldest football clubs and the Durand Cup – the third oldest football competition (behind the English FA Cup and Scottish Cup).
At one point, the Indian men’s national football team were quite good on the global stage and were even dubbed the Brazilians of Asia. However, cricket and kabaddi have always been slightly more popular than football, and their footballing ability gradually got worse throughout the decades.
As football began to grow in India in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, more teams started forming featuring homegrown Indian talent, and more tournaments and leagues started popping up.
The golden era of football in India is widely regarded to have been between 1951 and 1962. During this time, India was the best national football team in the whole of Asia.
From 1963 to around 1984, the Indian national football team was a shadow of its former self and gradually became one of the weakest Asian football teams.
There wasn’t a rebirth until around 2000, which lasted for a decade, and since 2013, when the Indian Super League started, India has gradually gotten better on the world stage again. The ISL recently celebrated its tenth successful season and has been credited with growing the popularity of football nationwide.
In 2015, India won the SAFF Cup at Thiruvananthapuram, and then in 2017, hosted the FIFA U17 World Cup. A decade of the ISL has helped transform the football landscape in India, from the grassroots level with emphasis on youth development, all the way up to the top.
Additionally, major global domestic leagues and major football tournaments around the world, like the English Premier League, Spain’s La Liga, the Saudi Pro, and the UEFA Champions League, have also had a major impact on football’s popularity in India.
Plus, women’s football is also now on the rise and more popular than ever.
Can India win the Asia Cup in 2024?
To find out just how likely it is that India will win the AFC Asian Cup, which runs from January 12 until February 10, the best thing to do would be to check the latest odds on India’s number one football betting site – the official 10CRIC10.com website.
A total of 24 teams are competing in the tournament, and it’s not looking good for India. Based on the latest average odds, they are among the least favourite teams to win the Asian Cup. Let’s quickly take a closer look at the odds, starting with the top 5 teams with the best chance of winning this year:
- Country: Japan. Decimal odds 3.25. Fractional odds: 9/4. American/moneyline odds: +225. Implied probability rate of winning: 30.80% (ODDS-ON favourite team to win the tournament outright)
- Country: South Korea. Decimal odds 5.50. Fractional odds: 9/2. American/moneyline odds: +450. Implied probability rate of winning: 18.20%
- Country: Australia. Decimal odds 7.50. Fractional odds: 13/2. American/moneyline odds: +650. Implied probability rate of winning: 13.30%
- Country: Iran. Decimal odds 8.00. Fractional odds: 7/1. American/moneyline odds: +700. Implied probability rate of winning: 12.50%
- Country: Saudi Arabia. Decimal odds 8.00. Fractional odds: 7/1. American/moneyline odds: +700. Implied probability rate of winning: 12.50%
Now, let’s quickly compare these odds with the five teams LEAST likely to win the Asian Cup this year:
- Country: Malaysia. Decimal odds 201.00. Fractional odds: 200/1. American/moneyline odds: +20,000. Implied probability rate of winning: 0.50%
- Country: India. Decimal odds 251.00. Fractional odds: 250/1. American/moneyline odds: +25,000. Implied probability rate of winning: 0.40%
- Country: Kyrgyzstan. Decimal odds 251.00. Fractional odds: 250/1. American/moneyline odds: +25,000. Implied probability rate of winning: 0.40%
- Country: Indonesia. Decimal odds 351.00. Fractional odds: 350/1. American/moneyline odds: +35,000. Implied probability rate of winning: 0.30%
- Country: Hong Kong. Decimal odds 501.00. Fractional odds: 500/1. American/moneyline odds: +50,000. Implied probability rate of winning: 0.2%
As you can see, based on these odds, India have a long way to go before they can truly start to compete against other top footballing nations on the global stage.
India are in group B along with Australia, Uzbekistan, and Syria, and must win their group or come second to advance to the next stage of the tourney.
Where can I bet on the Asian Cup, the ISL, and other major football tournaments and leagues if I live in India?
If you live in India and want to place a wager on the Asian Cup, the Indian Super League, or any other major global football league or tournament, the safest site you can turn to in 2024 is the official 10CRIC Sports betting site (10CRIC10.com).
It’s regarded by many as India’s number one iGaming site. It’s known for having some of the industry’s most competitive football betting odds. It’s owned and operated by a reputable name and is fully licensed by Curacao eGaming to offer real money gambling services to the Indian market.
It’s free to sign up to, and you can place sports bets at 10CRIC Sports or play online casino games at 10CRIC Casino 24/7 from any modern smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer with internet/Wi-Fi connectivity, provided you are at least 18 years old.
What does the future of football look like in India?
Many people agree that although the national side is a long way from being back to its best form, the future of football in India is looking extremely bright, thanks to huge investment, grassroots initiatives, increasing popularity of Indian football at home and abroad, the history of football in India, the prestigious leagues and tournaments like the Indian Super League, and the many ways you can now watch live Indian football matches.
